Science in the most curious places: An analysis of an in-service science education program for elementary school teachers

This thesis is an exploratory, qualitative analysis of the effectiveness of an in-service science program for elementary teachers, specifically focussing on the experiences of some of the participants.;The results indicate that the teachers perceived a dramatic shift in their science teaching due to their experiences in the program. Several perspectives on the purposes of science education were evident in teachers' discussions about their teaching, suggesting a broadening of the participants' scientific literacy. The study suggests that, while the changes were apparently meaningful for the teachers, they were neither superficial nor complete. The teachers also expressed an appreciation of a constructivist perspective on the learning and teaching of science in the classroom.;It is argued that these changes are principally due to the teachers' experiences in the classroom-based implementation course, which provided them with an on-going, supportive environment, based in their own practice. The study also indicates that the need for collegial, professional interactions in the working lives of elementary classroom teachers is seriously under-estimated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...